Above: Album cover for MEW’s latest record “No More Stories Are Told Today I’m Sorry They Washed Away No More Stories The World Is Grey I’m Tired Let’s Wash Away”

When it comes to music in the spotlight nowadays, originality is a breath of fresh air that is usually stifled, but it’s still out there. From the beginning, music has been a whirlwind of good and bad, extraordinary and mediocre; but once the dust settles what’s left? Underneath the rubble of forgotten hits and catchy songs only one thing remains: the underground, the bands and artists who often go unheard, hidden gems, like Mew. They began their musical journey in 1994 but in 2009 they broke through with their latest album No More Stories… One song after another, with dreamy vocals, enchanting lyrics and breathtaking melodies, Jonas Bjerre, Bo Madsen and Silas Utke Graae Jørgensen, create an atmosphere that can only be described as captivating, and a sound that is anything but unoriginal.

Although not much has changed for Mew since their debut in 1994, in No More Stories… it is as if they have finally perfected their own sound. This album exudes the thoughts and visions of three individuals who have transcended the imagination. The somewhat warped pulsating rhythm of the first song New Terrain, gives the feeling of traveling backwards in slow motion, jump-starting the otherworldly trip that is this album. Each track telling a story, taking the listener from place to place. Silas The Magic Car brings the CD to a mellow path with riffs that stroll and and lyrics that beckon. Sometimes Life Isn’t Easy is an eerie sprint through unknown territory. Listening to this album is definitely a one of a kind adventure that can be enjoyed over and over.

While more recording artists tend to be easily categorized into specific genres, there’s something about Mew that makes them difficult to define. Perhaps it’s how their melodies and rhythms sometimes sound improvised, as if they were being felt in the moment. Also, their live shows are often described as more of an experience than a performance. Whatever the case, their new album is original in every sense of the word, just the breath of fresh air modern music needs.

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